Fluid pressure actuated apparatus



INVENTOR. 7': Quinn ,4 zzarn e Sept. 13, 1955 o. T. QUINN FLUID PRESSUREACTUATED APPARATUS Filed March 17, 1952 2,717,492 Patented Sept. 13,1955 FLUID PRESSURE ACTUATEI) APPARATUS Orion T. Quinn, Bell, Calif.,assignor to Orion T. Quinn, Jr., Montebello, Calif.

Application March 17, 1952, Serial No. 276,927

7 Claims. (Cl. 60-52) This invention has to do with fluid pressureactuated apparatus, and it is a general object of the invention toprovide a simple, practical improved construction and arrangement ofelements employing fluid under pressure.

There are numerous situations where fluid under pressure; for example,liquid under high pressure, is employed for the application of force orpressure to work and where dependable accurate control of the actionobtained is essential. For purpose of example I will refer to pressessuch as are employed for the baling or pressing of materials and morespecifically I will refer to the head or platen of a press which elementis adapted to be operated by a cylinder and piston mechanism handlingliquid under pressure.

It is a general object of this invention to provide apparatus handlingfluid under pressure and which is such that it can be used to advantageto actuate a press platen, or the like, and which is such as to handleliquid under high-pressure, say, for example, at a thousand pounds persquare inch or more, rapidly and without hammering or other undesirableaction occurring.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the generalcharacter referred to wherein the actuating liquid under high-pressureis handled by simple, practical, dependable valves coupled by a meansthat maintains them set or positioned oppositely and results in theirbeing operated simultaneously and oppositely, for example, so that oneopens as the other closes.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the characterreferred to in which the high pressure operating liquid is handled by avalve means that operates so that there is no jarring or hammering inthe structure.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the generalcharacter referred to combining a high-pressure liquid system and alow-pressure pneumatic system so that the liquid under high pressure isconfined to the execution of work requiring high pres- M sure, while thelow pressure pneumatic system is utilized for the actuation of thevarious controls incorporated in the system.

In a typical embodiment of the invention there is a main cylinder andpiston mechanism provided to perform the desired work and adapted to beoperated by liquid under high pressure. A liquid reservoir carries asupply of liquid handled by a pump which operates to deliver the liquidat a high pressure, and a main liquid line is supplied by the pump andhas a cylinder branch extending to the cylinder of the main cylinder andpiston mechanism and a reservoir branch extending to the liquidreservoir. Like rotary valves, preferably simple plug valves, areconnected in the branches and control flow therethrough, and a checkvalve is provided in the cylinder branch between the valve locatedtherein and the main cylinder. A liquid exhaust line extends from thecylinder branch between the check valve and the main cylinder to thereservoir, and an exhaust valve is provided in the exhaust line. Apneumatically actuated means couples the valves provided in the branchesof the main liquid line, while the valves are set oppositely and operatesynchronously and oppositely. Another or second pneumatically actuatedmeans is provided to operate the exhaust valve. A return means isprovided in connection with the main cylinder and piston mechanism toreturn the piston thereof to an unactuated position. An air reservoir issupplied with air under pressure by a suitable pump, and a main air lineis supplied with air from the reservoir. An air distributing meansconnects the main air line and the actuating means coupling the valvesin the branches of the main liquid line and includes a reversible valvefor eifecting selective flow of air to and from the said actuating meansto eflect operation thereof in either direction. A second airdistributing means connects the main air line and the second actuatingmeans operating the exhaust valve and includes a reversible valve bywhich air from the main line is utilized to effect actuation of theexhaust line as desired, and an extension of the main air line suppliesair to the reversing means tending to normally return the main piston toan unactuatecl position.

The various objects and features of my invention will be fullyunderstood from the following detailed description of a typicalpreferred form and application of my invention, throughout whichdescription reference is made to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a diagrammatic view illustrating the apparatus incorporatingthe present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detailed sectional view of a portion of theapparatus, being a view illustrating one of the rotary valves handlinghigh pressure liquid and showing certain parts connected therewith andbeing a view taken as indicated by line 2-2 on Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a view illustrating a bypass means by which the pressuredelivered into the high pressure liquid handling parts is regulated.

The apparatus provided by this invention can be employed to advantage innumerous situations and particularly where liquid under high pressure isutilized to perform work, as for example, the actuation of a rodemployed to operate a press platen, or to operate any mechanismrequiring power operation. In the present disclosure I set forth a mainfluid pressure actuated means, or mechanism A, in the form of a maincylinder and piston mechanism, the rod 16 of which the part or partsrequiring power operation. The main mechanism A, as illustrated in thedrawing, includes a main cylinder 11 and a main piston 12 in the maincylinder 11 and operating the rod it). The rod 10 extends through a head13 of the cylinder at an end of the cylinder that is vented, and aliquid inlet port 14 is provided at the head 15 occurring at the otherend of the cylinder.

There is a liquid reservoir B adapted to carry a suitable supply ofliquid such as oil or water, and a high pressure power operated pump Creceives liquid from reservoir B and delivers it to a main high pressureliquid line D. The main high pressure liquid line D has what may betermed a cylinder branch 18 extending to the cylinder 11 of themechanism A and adapted to deliver liquid under pressure to the cylinder11 through the port 14. The high pressure line D has a branch 19extending to the reservoir B.

In practice the pressure of liquid delivered by pump C can be suitablyregulated or governed so that pressure of liquid in the main line D ismaintained at a suitable, or predetermined, value. In the caseillustrated a by-pass connection 20 is provided from the pump C to thereservoir B and is shown equipped with a simple or typical pressureregulating mechanism 21.

In accordance with the present invention like valves E and F areprovided in the branches 18 and 19, respectively, of the main liquidline E. In the preferred form of the invention the valves E and F are oflike form or type, and they may be of like size or capacity. Inaccordance with the invention, these valves are of the rotary type itbeing preferred to employ ordinary or conventional plug valves. As shownin the drawings each of these valves includes a body with parts of themain fluid handling line connected into opposite sides thereof, while aplug 26 is rotatable in the body and has a central transverse port 27adapted to be moved into and out of position where it passes flowthrough the body. The plug can be rotated in the body between a positionwhere the port 27 is In a closed position and all flow through the valveis stopped and a position where the port is open for full, free flow offluid through the structure. A stem 28 projects from the plug 26providing an element of the structure by which the plug, or valve, canbe operated.

.In accordance with the present invention, a check valve .6 is providedin the cylinder branch of the main liquid handling line D and is locatedbetween the valve E and the cylinder 11 of the main mechanism A. Thecheck valve serves to allow flow only toward or to the cylinder 11.

A liquid exhaust line H connects with the cylinder branch 18 between thecheck valve G and the cylinder 11 and extends from that point to thereservoir B. An exhaust valve J is connected in the exhaust line H andin practice is preferably a rotary, or plug valve, corresponding in formor construction with the valves E and F hereinabove described.

The elements thus far described are what may be termed the main, orprincipal, elements of the apparatus and are adapted to handle or to beoperated by liquid under high pressure. It is recognized that thepressure at which liquid operates in the apparatus thus far describedmay vary widely. However, in most applications of the invention and intypical situations the pressure of liquid as delivered by the pump Cwill be in the neighborhood of a thousand pounds per square inch, ormore, and when I employ the term high pressure I refer to pressure ofthat general order.

In the preferred form of the invention the apparatus employs elementshandling fluid at what may be termed low pressure and although the fluidthus employed may if desired be liquid, it is preferred that it be airand it will be, therefore, described as being air. In the preferred formof apparatus an air actuated operating means K is provided for thevalves E and F, and this means preferably couples the valves E and F sothat they are oppositely set or related and so that they operate insynchronism. When one valve is, for example, closed, the other isopened.

In the form of the invention illustrated, the means K involves anoperating bar 30 coupled by means 31 to the stems 28 of the valves E andF and is adapted to be operated by suitable pressure actuated means 32.The bar 3.0 is suitably mounted to reciprocate, and the means 32 asshown in the drawings includes a cylinder 33 and a piston 34 in thecylinder 33 and connected to the bar 30. Each means .31 includes a rack31 on the bar meshing with Pinion 31' on the stern of a valve.

An air actuated operating means L is provided for operating the exhaustvalve J, and in the case illustrated it is shown as including a barmounted to reciprocate and coupled by a means 42 to the stem 41 ofvalve 1. A means 43 operates the bar 40 and is preferably a cylinder andpiston mechanism including a cylinder 44 and a piston 45 operating incylinder 44 and having the bar 40 connected to it. Means 42 includes arack 42 on bar 40 :meshing with a pinion 42* on the stem of valve J.

A return means .M is provided and is adapted to return the piston 12 ofthe main mechanism A to an unactuated position. In the case illustratedthe means M is a cylinder and piston mechanism including a cylinder 50,

piston 51 operating in the cylinder, and a rod 52 attached to the piston51 and coupled to the main rod 10 by a suitable bracket 53.

Where the low pressure fluid employed is air, the invention provides anair reservoir 55 and a pump 56 is provided supplying air at a suitablepressure to the reservoir 55. A main air line 57 is connected to and issupplied with air from the reservoir 55.

An air distributing means 60 connects the main air line 57 and thecylinder and piston means 32. The air distributing means 60 includesdistributing lines 61 and 62 connected to opposite ends of cylinder 33and a control valve 63 connecting the lines 61 and 62 with the main airline 57 and an exhaust 68, so that air under pressure from the main airline 57 can be delivered to either one of the distributing lines whileit is exhausted from the other distributing line. In Fig. 1 of thedrawings the control valve 63 is indicated as a simple plug typeselector valve and is shown set so that air under pressure from the mainair line 57 is delivered to distributing line 62 applying pressure abovepiston 34 while the distributing line 61, connected to the lower end ofcylinder 32, is opened to the exhaust 68 so that air is free to escapefrom the lower end of cylinder 33. As a result of this setting, thepiston 34 is operated as shown in Fig. 1 to a down position where valveE in the cylinder branch 18 of liquid line D is open while valve F inthe reservoir branch 19 of line D is closed. When the position of valve63 is reversed, flow of air to the cylinder 32 is reversed, causingpiston 34 to move to the upper end of cylinder 32 with consequentreversal of the valves E and F, so valve E is closed and valve F isopen.

A second air distributing means 70 is provided and connects the main airline 57 and the cylinder and piston mechanism 43 as indicated in Fig. lof the drawings. The air distributing means '70 includes distributinglines 71 and 72 connected to opposite ends of cylinder 44 and a controlvalve 73 connects lines 71 and 72 with the main air line 57 and with anexhaust 78. The control valve in practice corresponds in constructionand action with the control valve 63 above-described so that air underpressure from line 57 can be admitted to either end of cyl'mder 44 whileit is exhausted from the opposite end thereof. When the control valve 73is set as illustrated in Fig. l, the piston 45 is up in cylinder 44 andthe exhaust valve I is closed, whereas when the valve 73 is reversed thepiston 43 is moved to a down position with consequent opening of thevalve 1.

An extension of the main air line 57 connects to one end of cylinder 59of means M, and in the case illustrated air from the main line 57 isconstantly acting in cylinder 5.0 tending to urge piston 51 in cylinder50 so that the rod 52 operates to move rod 10 and return the main piston12 to an unactuated position, or to the left in Fig. 1.

In a typical practical installation the cylinder 11 will be ofsubstantial size, and the liquid supplied thereto to actuate piston 12is under a high pressure, say for example, a pressure .of about athousand pounds per square inch, or more, whereas the cylinder 50 ismuch smaller than cylinder 11, and the air employed in the system andsupplied by the main line 57 is under a low pressure, say .a pressure ofabout a hundred to one hundred twentyfive pounds per square inch. Theair acting in cylinder 50 serves, however, to effectively return thepiston 12 to an unactuated position when the valve E is closed and thevalve J is opened. When valves E and I are both closed, as for instance,following operation of the piston 12 by pressure admitted through valveE, the air acting in cylinder 50 will not cause movement of the piston12 in cylinder 11.

With the construction and arrangement provided by the present invention,assuming valve I can be closed, the control valve 63 can be positionedso that air from line 57 operates the means K so that valve E is openand valve F is closed. Under this condition fluid, for example, liquidunder pressure from pump C, flows through valve E and past valve G andinto the cylinder 11 moving the piston 12 outward therein, so that rod10 moves in a manner to perform the desired useful work. When thedesired movement or stroke of the rod 1%) has been completed, thecontrol valve 63 can be reversed with resulting operation of means K sothat valve E is closed and valve F is opened. The valves E and F, beingrotary or plug type valves, can be rapidly reversed through operation ofmeans K without resulting hammer such as occurs in apparatus of thisgeneral character when ordinary valve arrangements are employed. Theplug valves when operated, simultaneously and even though op'erated,quickly result in gradual opening and closing so that the flow throughthe branches 18 and 19 of line D changes, that is,-is opened or stopped,not instantly but gradually.

It is also to be observed that the means K being acmated by air andbeing such as to include the cylinder and piston mechanism, or means 32,necessarily causes operation of the valves E and F yieldingly asdistinguished from positively and thus aids in eliminating hammer thatis so undesirable in systems of this general character. It is to beobserved, however, that the air under pressure from the line 57 actsthrough the cylinder and piston mechanism 32 to effectively anddependably operate the bar of means K so that the valves E and F areoperated as desired.

When the piston 12 and consequently the rod 10 of mechanism A has beenoperated to the desired position, the control valve 63 can be reversedso that means K ouerates to close the valve E and open the valve F. Thisresults in the output from the pump C being returned to the reservoir Bwhile the liquid passed by valve E is trapped and holds the piston 12 inthe position to which it has been actuated. When it is desired torelease the piston E for return or operation by the means M, the controlvalve 73 is operated so that means L reverses or opens the exhaust valveI. When valve J is opened, the fluid from the cylinder 11 is freelyreturned to the reservoir B and the air acting in cylinder 50 effectsreturn of the piston 12 to an unactuated position in cylinder 11.

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of myinvention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specificdetails herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variationsor modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art and fallwithin the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In combination, a cylinder and piston mechanism, a liquid reservoir,a pump adapted to receive liquid from the reservoir and deliver it underpressure, a liquid carrying line adapted to receive liquid underpressure from the pump and having a cylinder branch extending to saidmechanism and a reservoir branch extending to the reservoir, a rotaryvalve in each of said branches of the liquid carrying line, actuatingmeans adapted to operate said valves and including a fluid pressureactuated I.

mechanical mechanism positively coupling the valves with one open andthe other closed and adapted to operate the valves synchronously andoppositely, an exhaust line from the cylinder branch between the valvein the cylinder branch and the first mentioned mechanism to thereservoir, and an exhaust valve in the exhaust line adapted to operateindependently of the other valves and adapted to be operated betweenopen and closed positions.

2. In combination, a cylinder and piston mechanism, a liquid reservoir,a pump adapted to receive liquid from the reservoir and deliver it underpressure, a liquid carrying line adapted to receive liquid underpressure from the pump and having a cylinder branch extending to saidmechanism and a reservoir branch extending to the reservoir, a rotaryvalve in each of said branches of the liquid carrying line, actuatingmeans adapted to operate said valves and including a fluid pressureactuated positive mechanical means coupling the valves with one open andthe other closed and adapted to operate the valves simultaneously andoppositely, a fluid pressure actuated check valve in the cylinder branchbetween the rotary valve in the cylinder branch and the said mechanismand adapted to pass liquid to the first mentioned mechanism, and anexhaust line from the cylinder branch between the check valve and thefirst mentioned mecha nism to the reservoir, and an exhaust valve in theexhaust line and adapted to be operated between open and closedpositions independently of the other valves.

3. In combination, a cylinder and piston mechanism, a liquid reservoir,a pump adapted to receive liquid from said reservoir and deliver itunder pressure, a liquid carrying line adapted to receive liquid underpressure from the pump and having a cylinder branch extending to saidmechanism and a reservoir branch extending to 3 the reservoir, a rotaryvalve in each of said branches of the liquid carrying line, actuatingmeans adapted to operate said valves and including a fluid pressureactuated mechanism coupling the valves with one open and the otherclosed and adapted to operate the valves synchronously and oppositely,air distributing means adapted to receive air under pressure from thelast mentioned means and to supply air to and conduct it from said fluidpressure actuated mechanism and including a reversible control valve,fluid pressure actuated reversing means for the first mentionedmechanism, and means supplying air under pressure from the supplyingmeans to the reversing means.

4. In combination, a cylinder and piston mechanism, a liquid reservoir,a pump adapted to receive liquid from the reservoir and deliver it underpressure, a liquid carrying line adapted to receive liquid underpressure from the pump and having a cylinder branch extending to saidmechanism and a reservoir branch extending to the reservoir, a rotaryvalve in each of said branches of the liquid carrying line, actuatingmeans adapted to operate said rotary valves and including a fluidpressure actuated mechanism coupling the valves with one open and theother closed and adapted to operate the valves synchronously andoppositely, an exhaust line from the cylinder branch between the valvein the cylinder branch and the first mentioned mechanism to thereservoir, an exhaust valve in the exhaust line and adapted to beoperated between open and closed positions, actuating means adapted tooperate the exhaust valve, air supplying means adapted to supply airunder pressure, and a separate air distributing means from the airsupplying means to each of said actuating means and each including areversing valve.

5. In combination, a cylinder and piston mechanism, a liquid reservoir,a pump adapted to receive liquid from the reservoir and deliver it underpressure, a liquid carrying line adapted to receive liquid underpressure from the pump and having a cylinder branch extending to saidmechanism and a reservoir branch extending to the reservoir, a rotaryvalve in each of said branches of the liquid carrying line, actuatingmeans adapted to operate said rotary valves and including a fluidpressure actuated mechanism coupling the valves with one open and theother closed and adapted to operate the valves synchronously andoppositely, an exhaust line from the cylinder branch between the valvein the cylinder branch and the first mentioned mechanism to thereservoir, an exhaust valve in the exhaust line and adapted to beoperated between open and closed positions, actuating means adapted tooperate the exhaust valve, air supplying means adapted to supply airunder pressure, a separate air distributing means from the air supplyingmeans to each of said actuating means and each including a reversingvalve, fluid pressure actuated reversing means for the first mentionedmechanism, and means supplying air under pressure trom the air supplyingmeans to the reversing means.

6.. In combination, a work unit including a main cylinder, a main pistonin said cylinder and a main rod attached to said piston and projectingfrom one end of said cylinder, a reservoir adapted to carry liquid, aliquid pump adapted to receive liquid from the reservoir, a main liquidline adapted to be supplied with liquid by said pump and having acylinder branch extending to the other end of said cylinder andreservoir branch extending to said reservoir, like rotary plug valves insaid branches ofthe main liquid line, a check valve in the cylinderbranch between the valve in the cylinder branch and said cylinder, 2liquid exhaust line from the cylinder branch between the check valve andsaid cylinder to the reservoir, an exhaust valve in the exhaust line, anair actuated operating means coupling the valves in the branches of themain liquid line whereby they are oppositely set and operatesynchronously and oppositely, a second air actuated operating meansadapted to operate the exhaust valve, return means adapted to returnsaid piston to the said other end of said cylinder and including areturn cylinder and a return piston in the return cylinder and coupledwith said rod, an air reservoir, an air pump adapted to maintain airunder pressure in the air reservoir, a main air line adapted to besupplied with air from the air reservoir, an air distributing means fromthe main air line to the first mentioned air actuated operating meansand including a control valve adapted to effect selective flow of air toand from said first mentioned air actuated means to eifect operationthereof in either direction, and a second air distributing means fromthe main air line to the second air actuated operating means andincluding a reversible valve adapted to eltect selective fiow of air toand from said second air actuated operating means to effect opening andclosing of the exhaust valve, the main air line having an extensionadapted to supply operating air to the return cylinder.

7, In combination, a work unit including a main piston in said cylinderand a main rod attached to said piston and projecting from one end ofsaid cylinder, a reservoir adapted to carry liquid, a liquid pumpadapted to receive liquid from the reservoir, a main liquid line adaptedto be supplied with liquid by said pump and having a cylinder branchextending to the other end of said cylinder and a reservoir branchextending to said reservoir, like rotary plug valves in said branches ofthe main liquid line, a check valve in the cylinder branch between thevalve in the cylinder branch and said cylinder, a liquid exhaust linefrom the cylinder branch between the check valve and said cylinder tothe reservoir, an exhaust valve in the exhaust line, an air actuatedoperating means coupling the valves in the branches of the main liquidline whereby they are oppositely set and operate synchro nously andoppositely, a second air actuated operating means adapted to operate theexhaust valve, return means adapted to return said piston to the saidother end of said cylinder and including a return cylinder and a returnpiston in the return cylinder and coupled with said rod, an airreservoir, an air pump adapted to maintain air under pressure in the airreservoir, a main air line adapted to be supplied with air from the airreservoir, an air distributing means from the main air line to the firstmentioned air actuated operating means and including a control valveadapted to eitect selective flow of air to and from said first mentionedair actuated means to efiect operation thereof in either direction, anda second air distributing means from the main air line to the second airactuated operating means and including a reversible valve adapted toeffect selective flow of air to and from said second air actuatedoperating means to effect opening and closing of the exhaust valve, themain air line having an extension adapted to supply operating air to thereturn cylinder, the first mentioned air actuated operating meansincluding, a bar adapted to reciprocate, a drive between the bar andeach of the valves in the branches of the main line and a cylinder andpiston mechanism adapted to operate the bar.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

